Don’t forget, if you are a Freo author or publisher, you may qualify for payments from the Commonwealth Government if your work is held in a public library.
Public Lending Right (PLR) and Educational Lending Right (ELR) are Australian Government programs that compensate Australian creators and publishers in recognition of income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries. These programs are designed to support the enrichment of Australian culture by encouraging the growth and development of Australian writing.
A creator or a publisher must register and submit title claims within five years from the year of publication. Books are surveyed in a sample of either public lending libraries (PLR) or school, TAFE and university libraries (ELR).
Eligible creators are:
– authors, editors, illustrators, translators and compilers
– Australian citizens, wherever they reside
– non-citizens who normally reside in Australia (eligibility ceases if residency in Australia ceases), and
those who receive on-going royalties from the sale of their book.
Eligible publishers are:
– companies whose business consists wholly or substantially of the publication of books and who regularly publish in Australia, regularly publish’ is defined as at least once in the preceding three year period
– non-profit organisations that publish to further their aims or objectives, and
self-publishing creators.
Payments are only made to eligible publishers if an eligible creator is receiving a payment.
Is your book eligible?
Eligible books are:
books with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
books which have been published and offered for sale within five years from the year of publication
books which have a catalogue record in a national bibliographic database. eg. SCIS or Libraries Australia Catalogue
books whose creators are individuals (companies or organisations are not eligible creators)
books with no more than five eligible creators.
Items such as electronic books, CDs, audio-visual kits and card packs are not eligible.
PLR and ELR payments are calculated and paid separately.
If you are eligible, your payment will be based on: the estimated number of your books held in public and educational (schools, universities and TAFEs) lending libraries; the proportion of the royalties you receive for your books; and the applicable rates for PLR payments and ELR payments.
This calculation must reach a minimum of $100 for you to receive a payment.
Contact Lending Rights
to find out more
Email: lendingrights@arts.gov.au
Phone: 1800 672 842
